Jack seal



Jan. 14, 1941.

JACK SEAL Filed Oct. 4, 195a [a Fla-2 /N VI: N TOR c. M! ROSE/P ATTORNEV c. w. RoER 2,228,641-

Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACK SEAL Application October 4, 1938, Serial No. 233,176

14 Claims.

tion comprises a hollow element. Sl da y able in a jack sleeve and split so that it may be expanded by a conical member threaded into the element from the rear to lock the element within the jack sleeve, the front of the element being conditioned to receive a soft metal plug; to close the element against access to the conical member. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of jack with the seal associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment of the invention 30' the seal is shown associated with one of several types of telephone jacks, indicated at H) and having a sleeve l I mounted in any suitable switchboard (not shown). The sleeves, such as sleeve I l of jacks as a rule have standard inside dimensions for receiving a standard telephone plug. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward end of the sleeve is round at its aperture for readily receiving a switchboard plug.

The seal comprises a hollow or cylindrical element l4 substantially equal in diameter to the aperture of the sleeve, yet slidablly receivable its circumference to add resiliency to gripping portions 18 formed by longitudinally extending slots l9. The reduced portions l6 and I! further provide gripping edges which may intimately engage the inner wall of the sleeve II to prevent removal of the element when a conical member 55 20 is forced into locking position.

The conical member 20 is threaded for a portion of its length to interengage internal threads in the forward portion of the element. The rearward portion of the member, however, has a smooth surface substantially conical in shape and positioned to engage the inner walls 23 of the gripping portions I8. The inner-walls 23 of. the gripping portions are tapered slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to reduce the force required for the member 20 to move them into locking relation with the sleeve. The forward portion of the conical member 20 may be conditioned to receive a tool to cause rotation of the member relative to the element in looking the element in a, jack sleeve. In The present embodiment a screwdriver slot 24 is illustrated for this purpose. yThe forward end of the element M, which extends free of the sleeve II when the element is disposed therein, is tapered inwardly at an angle toward the center line of the element, as illustrated at 25, and terminates at a circular opening 2% for receiving a semi-spherical soft plug 21. The inner wall of the opening 26 is flared outwardly, as at 28, and terminates at its inner extremity adjacent a shoulder 29, which serves asa stop for the plug 21 when inserted in place. The plug 21, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is hollow and slightly smaller in diameter than the opening 26 so that" it may be readily inserted therein. By vapplying sufiicient pressure to the plug, after it has been disposed in the opening the plug will tend to flatten, conforming to the tapered surface 28 of the opening and cause an interlocking relation of the plug and the element. A suitable tool (not shown) with a 'concaved plug engaging end, provided, if desired, with projections to form configurations in the plug, may be used to force the plug in place.

Any desired jack may be rendered ineffective for use byfirst placing the conical member with,- in the element and interconnecting thethreads thereof,yet not to the extent-to movev the. gripping portions outwardly. The seal thus assembled may be inserted into the sleeve H to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and a tool such as a screw driver may then be inserted in the element to cause rotation of the conical member therein until the gripping portions of the element are'forced in engagement with the inner wall of the sleeve to prevent removal of the element. The plug 21 may then be inserted in place. The plug 21, being of soft metal, such as lead, will indicate any attempt to remove the seal from the jack. It is not intended that the jack be positively sealed against use, as the seal could be removed without much effort but not without leaving evidence of the intention of removing the seal. The main purpose of the seal is to officially condition a desired number of jacks or telephone lines against use temporarily and when thus sealed and allowed to remain sealed for the desired time there would be no charge for the service of such telephones. However, should the seal be broken, that is, should the plug 21 be removed or show indications of being tampered with, the charge could be made for the serviceof the telephones connected to the jacks in which such tampered seals are located.

By using the jack seals to temporarily retire a selected number of telephone lines it is not neeessary to remove the telephones in said lines to condition the lines against service. The tele phones may remain connected in the lines for future service and when such service is desired a properly authorized p rson may remove the seals, again placing the telephones in service. The plugs 21 are sufiiciently durable to keep the exposed end of the element closed and its semispherical contour renders it impossible to remove the plug without causingdamage thereto to make it impossible to again insert it in the element or leave some indication of having been tampered with. The plug 21, being hollow, will collapsewhen removed by a tool such as a pair of pliers.

The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is illustrative only and may be widely modified and departed from in many ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a closure element receivable in a jack sleeve and having a resilient portion, and means to force the resilient portion into engagement with the sleeve to rigidly secure the element therein.

2. A seal for'a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising'a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve, and means disposed in the inner end of the element to secure the element in the sleeve.

' 3. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve, and means disposed in the inner end of the element and accessible from the outer end of the element to secure the element in the sleeve.

4. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve, means disposed in the inner end of the element and accessible from the outer end of the element to secure the element in the sleeve, and means to close the outer end of the element against access to the securing means.

5. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in ajack sleeve and having a movable portion, and means receivable in the element to move the said portion into intimate engagement with the sleeve to secure the element against displacement relative to the sleeve.

6. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve and having a movable portion, means receivable in the element to move the said portion into intimate engagement with the sleeve to secure the element against displacement relative to the sleeve, and means to close the hollow element.

7. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising ahollow element receivable in a jack sleeve and a member threadly disposed in the inned end of the element and accessible through the outer end thereof to cause the element to be secured in the sleeve. W 8. A seal for a jack. having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve-and a member threadedly disposed in the inner end of the element and accessible through the outer end thereof to cause the element to be secured in the sleeve, and means to close the outer end of the element against access to the member. 9. A seal for a jack having a'sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve, means disposed in the inner end of the.

one end to form resilient portions, a member threadedly movable in the element to move the portions outwardly and accessible from the other end of the element, and a soft metal cap to close the element against access to the member.

12. A seal comprisin'g a hollow element split at one end to form resilient portions, a member threadedly movable in the element to move the portions outwardly and accessible from the other end of the element-and a hollow soft metal cap to close the element against access to the member.

13. A seal comprising a hollow element split at one end to form resilient portions, a member threadedly engaging the element having a tapered head tomove the-portions outwardly and-accessible from the other end of the element, and means to close the element against access to the member.

- 14. A seal for a jack having a sleeve, the seal comprising a hollow element receivable in a jack sleeve split at its inner end to form resilient portions and grooved at its outer end, a member threadedly movable in the element to move the portions outwardly and accessible from the outer end of the element, and a soft metal cap disposed in the grooved'outer endof the element to close the elementagainst access to the member.

CARL W. ROSER. 

